EvergreenHealth Implements UV Technology to Help Fight Infection-Causing Pathogens, Enhancing Hospital Safety

The new disinfecting system uses state-of-the-art ultraviolet (UV-C) light technology to eliminate dangerous pathogens, such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), which can survive on surfaces in the healthcare environment for extended periods and pose a threat to patients, staff and visitors. Following standard cleaning and disinfecting procedures, the mobile UV-C unit is brought in to provide another layer of protection and ensure even hard-to-reach areas in hospital rooms that may be difficult to clean by hand are thoroughly treated. They system works by emitting UV-C light, the highest-energy form of ultraviolet light, in a full 360 degrees, killing microorganisms by inactivating their DNA which renders them harmless and unable to replicate.

"There is nothing more important than the safety of our patients and their families, and we are constantly looking for ways to enhance their experience through our culture of safety and commitment to the highest standards of care," said Bob Malte, CEO of EvergreenHealth. "This additional layer of safety and infection prevention reflects our integrated approach to combining the latest healthcare technology with the very human element of patient care."

After standard manual cleaning and disinfecting procedures, the lightweight device can disinfect areas within an 8-foot radius in just five minutes. In a typical patient room, the system is deployed for three five-minute cycles, once on each side of the bed and once in the patient bathroom. A similar protocol is used for operating rooms at the end of each day. The system also tracks device usage across rooms, locations and operators, and provides automated, real-time diagnostic data and reporting.

Research from the University of Pennsylvania showed that using the Optimum-UV Enlight® System in combination with manual surface disinfection, helped reduce C. difficile infection rates among high-risk patients by 25 percent over a 12-month period—and without impacting room turn-over times.ⁱ Most importantly, the results were achieved in hematology/oncology units that had persistently high C. difficile infection rates, despite high compliance with other evidence-based prevention measures.

For more information about EvergreenHealth's commitment to patient safety, visit www.evergreenhealth.com/absolute-safety, or to learn more about the Clorox Healthcare^® Optimum-UV Enlight^® System, visit www.CloroxHealthcare.com.

About EvergreenHealth

EvergreenHealth is an integrated health care system that serves nearly one million residents in King and Snohomish counties and offers a breadth of services and programs that is among the most comprehensive in the region. More than 1,000 physicians provide clinical excellence in over 80 specialties, including heart and vascular care, oncology, surgical care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women's and children's services, pulmonary care and home care and hospice services. Formed as a public hospital district in 1972, EvergreenHealth includes a 318-bed acute care medical center in Kirkland, a network of 12 primary care practices, two urgent care centers, over two dozen specialty care practices and 24/7 emergency care at its Kirkland, Monroe, and Redmond campuses. In 2015, the system expanded to include EvergreenHealth Monroe – an accredited, full-service 74-bed public hospital district, established in 1960 in Monroe, Washington. EvergreenHealth has clinical and strategic partnerships with several health care entities, including Overlake Medical Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and dozens of independent practices that are part of the clinically integrated Eastside Health Network and the Puget Sound High Value Network. In addition to clinical care, EvergreenHealth offers extensive community health outreach and education programs, anchored by the 24/7 EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline.

In 2016, EvergreenHealth achieved its eighth designation in the last nine years (2009-2012, and 2014-2017) as a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence from Healthgrades®, and in 2017 it was named one of Healthgrades 2017 America's 100 Best Hospitals placing it among the top 2 percent of hospitals nationwide, based on its outstanding clinical performance. EvergreenHealth was also named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health Analytics™ in the "Large Community Hospitals" category for outstanding achievements in patient care, operational efficiency and financial strength, two years in a row. For more information, visit www.evergreenhealth.com.

ⁱ Pegues DA et al. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2016: pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1017/ice.2016.222.

SOURCE EvergreenHealth

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https://www.evergreenhealth.com